Objective:To investigate the impacts of ionizing radiation on protein expression profiles in esophageal tissues of rats using quantitative proteomics, in order to reveal the molecular mechanisms underlying the onset and development of radiation-induced esophagitis (RIE).Methods:A total of twenty-four male SD rats were divided by simple randomization into three groups: the control, 25 Gy irradiation, and 35 Gy irradiation groups, and their esophageal tissues were collected at 7 d post-irradiation to extract total protein. Then, changes in the protein expression profiles of the esophageal tissues in irradiated rats were investigated using tandem mass tag (TMT)-labeled quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analysis. Additionally, the expressions of two key proteins, Hp and Ndufs4, were validated using immunohistochemistry and Western blot.Results:A comparison with the control group revealed a total of 847 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs; 483 up-regulated and 364 down-regulated) following 25 Gy irradiation and 699 DEPs (443 up-regulated and 256 down-regulated) following 35 Gy irradiation. Different radiation doses led to common 326 up-regulated proteins, which were mainly involved in biological processes and signaling pathways related to immune and inflammatory responses, and 210 down-regulated proteins, which were primarily involved in biological processes and signaling pathways related to energy production and metabolism. Furthermore, a total of 155 proteins were screened using a constructed protein protein interaction(PPI) network. Of these proteins, the up-regulated ones were most associated with three functional pathways, namely innate immune responses, complement and coagulation cascades, and innate immune system, while the down-regulated ones were most associated with energy acquisition via oxidizing organic compounds, oxidative phosphorylation, and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and respiratory electron transfer. These functions were enriched with nine complement-related up-regulated and five mitochondria-related down-regulated proteins, respectively. Ionizing radiation significantly up-regulated Hp ( t = 27.94, 10.96, P<0.001) and down-regulated Ndufs4 ( t = 59.27, 54.07, P<0.001), consistent with the protein sequencing result. Conclusions:Ionizing radiation can change the protein expression profiles in the esophageal tissues of rats, and these DEPs are involved in multiple radiobiology-related functional pathways such as immune processes, inflammatory responses, and abnormal energy metabolism. Screening and validation of key proteins are helpful for identifying potential biomarkers of radiation-induced esophagitis.

Objective:To observe the corneal morphology and visual quality after transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (Trans-PRK) with smart pulse technique (SPT) and 1 050 Hz cutting frequency in the correction of myopia and astigmatism.Methods:A self-controlled case series study was conducted.Sixty five eyes of 33 patients who underwent Trans-PRK surgery in Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM from July 2017 to June 2018 were followed up for 6 months.The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) converted to logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) unit, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) (LogMAR), and spherical equivalent (SE) of the subjects were recorded.The anterior corneal surface symmetry index (SI), the anterior corneal surface Q value in the range of 6, 7, 8, and 9 mm diameter, the spherical aberration, coma, trefoil and total higher-order aberration of the anterior corneal surface, the strehl ratio (SR), and the modulation transfer function (MTF) of 10, 20, 30, and 40 c/d in the horizontal and vertical meridian directions before and after surgery were measured with Sirius corneal topography analyzer.The differences of each index among different time points were compared, and the correlation between indexes was analyzed by Pearson correlation analysis.This study followed the Declaration of Helsinki.The study protocol was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM (No.2020yh-004). All patients signed the informed consent form before surgery.Results:The average preoperative BCVA and SE were -0.09±0.06 and (-4.24±1.24)D.The mean UCVA and SE at 7 days, 1, 3 and 6 months postoperatively were -0.10±0.08 and (0.03±0.63)D, -0.12±0.06 and (0.08±0.53)D, 1.16±0.06 and (0.02±0.79)D, -0.18±0.05 and (0.08±0.37)D, respectively.The SI at different time points after the surgery were significantly higher than that before operation (all at P<0.05). At 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery, the Q value of anterior corneal surface in different diameter ranges increased from negative to positive, showing statistically significant differences (all at P<0.05). At each time point after surgery, the trefoil and total higher-order aberrations of the anterior corneal surface increased to varying degrees.Coma at 7 days and 6 months after surgery were significantly higher than that before surgery, and spherical aberration at 3 and 6 months after surgery were significantly higher than that before surgery (all at P<0.05). The SR values at 3 and 6 months after operation were significantly higher than that before operation (all at P<0.05). At 6 months after operation, the MTF values at different spatial frequencies of the horizontal meridian and the MTF values at 30 and 40c/d spatial frequencies of the vertical meridian were lower than those before operation, and the differences were statistically significant (all at P<0.05). The correlation analysis showed that the Q value of different diameter ranges was positively correlated with spherical aberration ( r=0.798-0.925, P<0.05), total higher-order aberration ( r=0.596-0.630, P<0.05), SI ( r=0.235-0.303, P<0.05) and corneal ablation depth ( r=0.583-0.659, P<0.05) at 6 months after surgery.SI was positively correlated with spherical aberration ( r=0.307, P<0.05), coma ( r=0.424, P<0.05), total higher-order aberration ( r=0.300, P<0.05), corneal ablation depth ( r=0.227, P<0.05), and eccentric cutting amount ( r=0.281, P<0.05). There was no correlation between SR and aberration, corneal ablation depth, eccentric cutting amount, etc.(all at P≥0.05). Conclusions:Trans-PRK using SPT to correct myopic astigmatism can improve vision, stabilize diopter, enhance retinal imaging quality, increase the asymmetry of the anterior corneal surface, and introduce different degrees of higher-order aberrations.

Objective:To investigate the normal reference values of spinal bone mineral density measured by quantitative computed tomography (QCT) and the differences of bone mineral density (BMD) in different regions of in Chinese adult males.Methods:Men who underwent low-dose CT lung scan for cancer screening in regions of Northeast, North, East, South, Central and Southwest of China from January 2018 to December 2019 were selected. And the lumbar vertebrae BMD values in the male subjects were measured by the QCT system (Mindways Software, Inc.). The mean BMD values and their decline rates were calculated at an age interval of 10 years, and the prevalence of osteoporosis was calculated according to the American College of Radiology spine QCT osteoporosis diagnostic criteria.Results:A total of 50 682 males with a mean age of (50.22±12.79) years (ranged 20 to 98 years) were included in this study. The peak BMD of (173.11±28.56) mg/cm 3 in the healthy Chinese adult male population appeared in the age group of 20 to 29 years and then declined with age. Before the age of 70 years, the BMD was relatively higher in males in South China, and it was lower in Central China and Southwest China, and it was intermediate in Northeast, North and East of China, with statistically significant differences. There was no significant differences in BMD in the males in the two age groups of 70 to 79 years and 80 and older among the regions in China. The overall decline rate of spinal BMD in Chinese males under QCT was about 46.92% over the lifetime, and it declined obviouslyin the 40-49 age group. The overall prevalence of osteoporosis in Chinese male population aged 50 years and above was approximately 11.42%, with the highest prevalence in Southwest China and Central China (14.72% and 13.87%, respectively) and the lowest in North China and South China (8.53% and 7.71%, respectively). Conclusions:A reference of lumbar spine BMD values for healthy males in China based on QCT is established. BMD values were highest in South China and Lowest in Central China.

Objective:To establish the normal reference value of lumbar bone mineral density (BMD) under quantitative CT (QCT) in Chinese healthy adult females and to explore the regional differences.Methods:Total of 35 431 healthy women who met the inclusion criteria of Chinese health quantitative CT big data program were selected in this study. The BMD of the central plane of L 1 and L 2 vertebrae was measured by Mindways′s QCT system, and the mean value was taken. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the BMD differences of lumbar vertebrae in women of different ages and regions. The subjects were grouped by an age interval of 10 years, and the level of BMD in different regions of the same age group were compaired. Results:The peak BMD of Chinese healthy adult women appeared in the age group of 20-29 years (Northeast China(183.01±24.58) mg/cm 3, North China (188.93±24.80) mg/cm 3, East China (187.54±27.71) mg/cm 3, South China (186.22±33.72) mg/cm 3, Central China (176.33±24.91) mg/cm 3, Southwest China(182.25±28.00) mg/cm 3), and then it decreased with age. The level of BMD in different regions decreased with the age. Before the age of 70 years, BMD in Central and Southwest China was always at a low level((176.23±24.91) to (90.38±28.12) mg/cm 3, 182.25±28.00 to (88.55±25.68) mg/cm 3), lower than those in Northeast China ((183.01±24.58) to (99.69±27.85) mg/cm 3), North China ((188.93±24.80) to (95.89±26.12) mg/cm 3), East China ((187.54±27.71) to (95.65±27.86) mg/cm 3). After 70 years of age, BMD tended to be the same in different regions ( P>0.05). The BMD values in Central China and Southwest China were similar in the age group of 40-60 years ( P>0.05). The BMD values in the health adult femles in the age group of 60 years in different regions of Chinawere all lower than those of bone mass abnormality (all P<0.05). The detection rate of osteoporosis in females over 50 years was the highest in Southwest China (25.65%) and it was the lowest in North China (17.30%). Conclusions:This study establishes reference values of BMD under QCT in healthy Chinese women, which can be used as a reference basis for identifying women with low BMD who are at risk of osteoporosis. The BMD value is the lowest in Southwest China and the highest in South China.

Objective:To use quantitative computed tomography (QCT) technology to measure the bone mineral density of the spine of the Chinese healthy population, and to explore its correlation with hemoglobin and serum albumin.Methods:The data in this study came from the China Health Quantitative CT Big Data Project (China Biobank). The spine bone density was measured by using QCT Pro Image Analysis System and all cooperating centers used the European spine phantom (NO.145) for quality control. Total of 50 053 healthy persons who met the criteria for entry were selected as the research subjects. The subjects were divided into 7 groups according to age. The general data, spine bone density, serum albumin, hemoglobin of the subjects were collected. The single-factor analysis of variance, Pearson correlation analysis and multi-classification logistic regression model were applied to analyze the correlation between bone density and hemoglobin and serum albumin.Results:The bone mineral density of healthy people decreased with age ( P<0.05), and there were significant differences in hemoglobin, serum albumin and body mass index (BMI) among different age groups (all P<0.05). Linear correlation analysis showed that there were positive correlation between bone mineral density and hemoglobin in healthy males in different age groups ( r=0.086, 0.101, 0.076, 0.090, 0.072, 0.123, 0.100, all P<0.01). There were negative correlation between bone mineral density and hemoglobin in certain age groups in women (40-49 years group: r=-0.027; 70-79 yearsgroup: r=-0.077; both P<0.05). And corelation were found between bone mineral density and serum levels of albumin in certain age groups of healthy subjects (among men, 30-39 years group: r=-0.048; 40-49 years group, r=-0.027; 70-79 years group, r=-0.051; among women, 30-39 years group: r=-0.044; 40-49 years group, r=-0.042; 50-59 years group, r=-0.086; 70-79 years group, r=-0.070; all P<0.05). After adjusting for age and BMI, the multi-category logistic regression analysis showed that the hemoglobin level was protective factor of normal bone density ( OR=1.022, 95% CI:1.017-1.027) and decreased bone density ( OR=1.012, 95% CI:1.007-1.016) in healthy males, and the serum albumin was risk factor for normal bone density ( OR=0.926, 95% CI:0.905-0.948) and decreased bone density ( OR=1.006, 95% CI:0.951-1.011) in healthy women. Conclusion:There is a correlation between bone mineral density and hemoglobin and serum albumin in Chinese healthy population. Hemoglobin is a protective factor for bone mineral density in men, and serum albumin is a risk factor for bone mineral densityin women.

Objective:To evaluate the effects of the cassette 14C-urea breath test kit, scintillation sampling bottle (solid-state scintillation method) and liquid scintillation 14C-urea breath test kit in the diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori ( H. pylori) infection. Methods:From January 7 to October 28, 2020, 239 patients were enrolled who visited Renji Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine and the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University. All subjects first received 14C-urea breath test.Within >1 to <7 days after gas collection, mucosal tissues were taken under gastroscopy for gold standard test, including biopsy and rapid urease test (RUT). If both biopsy and RUT indicated H. pylori positive, the result of gold standard test was H. pylori positive, and if both were negative, the result of gold standard test was H. pylori negative. If the results of biopsy and RUT were inconsistent, they were not included in the subsequent analysis. Based on the results of gold standard test, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the cassette 14C-urea breath test kit, scintillation sampling bottle, and liquid scintillation 14C-urea breath test kit in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection were analyzed. The safety of the test was evaluated by whether there were any adverse events during the test. Descriptive methods were used for statistical analysis. Results:Among the 239 subjects, 12 cases did not complete the test, 227 subjects finally completed the test. The test completion rate was 95.0% (227/239). No.008 patient was only included in the analysis of cassette 14C-urea breath test kit and scintillation sampling bottle because of lacking the result of liquid scintillation breath test. The results of gold standard test showed that among 227 patients, 87 cases were H. pylori positive, 118 cases were H. pylori negative. The results of biopsy and RUT were inconsistent in 22 cases, so they were not included in the subsequent analysis. Excluding No.008 patient, the results of gold standard test showed that 86 cases were H. pylori positive and 118 cases were negative. Based on the results of gold standard test, the sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of cassette 14C-urea breath test kit, scintillation sampling bottle, and the liquid scintillation 14C-urea breath test kit in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection were 91.9%, 100.0%, 96.6%, 100.0% and 94.4%, respectively; 95.4%, 97.5%, 96.6%, 96.5% and 96.6%, respectively; and 96.5%, 99.2%, 98.0%, 98.8% and 97.5%, respectively. Only one adverse event (right upper abdominal pain after eating) occurred. Combined with the patients condition, the adverse event was determined as the onset of chronic cholecystitis and it might not be related to the test medication. Conclusions:Cassette 14C-urea breath test kit, scintillation sampling bottle, and liquid scintillation 14C-urea breath test kit have reliable performance, good safety, and high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy in the diagnosis of H. pylori infection, which are worthy of clinical application.

Objective:To investigate the relationship between abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and cardiometabolic risk (CMR) through quantitative computed tomography (QCT).Methods:The present study included 76226 participants. Abdominal fat areas were measured using the QCT Pro Model 4 system. Cardiometabolic indices were collected, including systolic and diastolic blood pressures, fasting plasma glucose, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and low-density and high-density lipoprotein cholesterols CMR score was the sum of abnormal blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglyceride, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Restricted cubic spline and ordered logistic regression models were applied.Results:The mean age was 50±13 years and the percentage of men was 58.8%. The level of VAT area was higher in men than in women (191.7±77.1 cm 2 vs 116.4±56.2 cm 2, P<0.0001 for all). After adjustment for age, the cardiometabolic indices except high-density lipoprotein cholesterol increased with increasing VAT area. When VAT area was 300 cm 2, age-adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals of a CMR score ≥ 1 were 14.61 (13.31, 16.04) for men and 5.46 (4.06, 7.36) for women, and the age-adjusted probability of a CMR score ≥ 3 was 31.7% for men and 31.3% for women. Conclusions:QCT-derived VAT is closely related to CMR. The findings suggest that measurement of visceral fat is recommended for the management of abdominal obesity in subjects who agree to undergo lung cancer screening via low-dose CT without additional radiation exposure.

Objective:To compare the clinical outcome of transepithelial photorefractive keratectomy (TransPRK) using 1 050 Hz ablation frequency and intelligent pulse technique (SPT) and small incision lenticule extraction (SMILE) for myopia and astigmatism.Methods:A cohort study was performed.Eighty-five eyes of 43 patients who received TransPRK for myopia and 85 eyes of 46 patients who received SMILE for myopia in the Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM were enrolled from August 2017 to April 2018.The follow-up duration was 6 months.The changes of visual acuity and diopter were observed and compared before and after operation, and the predictability, stability, safety, effectiveness and long-term vision were compared between the different surgeries.This study complied with the Declaration of Helsinki and the study protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of Ineye Hospital of Chengdu University of TCM.Results:The refractive power tended to be emmetropic and relatively stable in the TransPRK group, and the refraction varied from mild hyperopia to emmetropic gradually during 6 months after SMILE.There was no significant difference in the spherical equivalent (SE) between the two groups before and after operation (all at P>0.05). No significant difference was found in mean validity index between the two groups at 6 months after surgery (1.189±0.248 vs.1.120±0.205; t=1.862, P=0.065). The uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA) in the SMILE group was significantly higher than that in the TransPRK group at 7 days and 1 month after surgery ( P<0.05), and there was no significant difference in UCVA between the two groups at 3 months and 6 months after surgery ( P>0.05). The safety index at 6 months after surgery in the TransPRK group was 1.209±0.222, which was significantly higher than 1.143±0.178 in the SMILE group, with a significant difference between the two groups ( t=2.024, P=0.045). Conclusions:The predictability, stability, safety, effectiveness and long-term vision are good after TransPRK with SPT and SMILE for myopia and astigmatism.The safety index is better in TransPRK compared with SMILE, and the restoration of vision is faster after SMILE than that after TransPRK.

Objective To investigate the correlations between expression of CASC2 and hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) prognosis.Methods A total of 129 patients including 80 males and 49 females with HCC were includedin this study,ranging from 21 to 73 years in Xuanwu Hospital of Capital Medical University and Beijing You'an Hospital were retrospectively analyzed from September 2007 to January 2014.Expression of CASC2 was assessed using reverse transcription quantitative-polymerase chain reaction in HCC tissue and the adjacent normal tissue.The correlations between CASC2 mRNA level and clinicopathological parameters was investigated.The relationship between the expression of CASC2 and the prognosis of patients with HCC was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method.A log-rank analysis was performed to identify group differences.Univariate and multivariate Cox analysis were used to analyze the variables affecting the patient's prognosis.Results In 129 HCC samples,the level of CASC2 expression (0.84 ± 0.05) was lower than (3.35 ± 0.11) adjacent normal tissue (P ＜ 0.05).There were significant differences between CASC2 expression and tumor size,histological differentiation,and tumor stage in 129 HCC speciments.The median expression level of CACS2 in HCC tissues,0.84-fold,was used as the cut-off value to divide the 129 patients into two groups:low-expression group (n =72) and high-expression group (n =57).Overall survival rate of HCC patients with high CACS2 expression was significantly higher than those of patients with low CACS2 expression(P ＜0.05).Multivariate analysis indicated that histological differentiation (HR =0.20,95％ CI:0.05 ～ 0.59),tumor stage (HR =1.71,95％ CI:1.02 ～ 2.99) and CACS2 expression (HR =O.51,95％ CI:O.08 ～0.92) were an independent predictor of overall survival.Conclusion Low expression of CACS2 might be associated with the occurrence and development of HCC.

Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship among the clinical features, radiologic characteristics and pathological diagnosis in patients with solitary pulmonary nodules, and establish a prediction model for the probability of malignancy. Methods: Clinical data of 372 patients with solitary pulmonary nodules who underwent surgical resection with definite postoperative pathological diagnosis were retrospectively analyzed. In these cases, we collected clinical and radiologic features including gender, age, smoking history, history of tumor, family history of cancer, the location of lesion, ground-glass opacity, maximum diameter, calcification, vessel convergence sign, vacuole sign, pleural indentation, speculation and lobulation. The cases were divided to modeling group (268 cases) and validation group (104 cases). A new prediction model was established by logistic regression analying the data from modeling group. Then the data of validation group was planned to validate the efficiency of the new model, and was compared with three classical models(Mayo model, VA model and LiYun model). With the calculated probability values for each model from validation group, SPSS 22.0 was used to draw the receiver operating characteristic curve, to assess the predictive value of this new model. Results: 112 benign SPNs and 156 malignant SPNs were included in modeling group. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that gender, age, history of tumor, ground -glass opacity, maximum diameter, and speculation were independent predictors of malignancy in patients with SPN(P<0.05). We calculated a prediction model for the probability of malignancy as follow: p=e^x/(1+ e^x), x=-4.8029-0.743×gender+ 0.057×age+ 1.306×history of tumor+ 1.305×ground-glass opacity+ 0.051×maximum diameter+ 1.043×speculation. When the data of validation group was added to the four-mathematical prediction model, The area under the curve of our mathematical prediction model was 0.742, which is greater than other models (Mayo 0.696, VA 0.634, LiYun 0.681), while the differences between any two of the four models were not significant (P>0.05). Conclusions Age of patient, gender, history of tumor, ground-glass opacity, maximum diameter and speculation are independent predictors of malignancy in patients with solitary pulmonary nodule. This logistic regression prediction mathematic model is not inferior to those classical models in estimating the prognosis of SPNs.